Blondie Goes Latin

This is the eighth in the Blondie movie series. In this one, the Bumsteads go on a cruise to South America with Mr. Dithers-mainly so the boss can rest. There's also a funny scene involving the mailman, the cab driver, shaving cream, and running. And another when-after it's established Dagwood has to come home to take care of business-the others think they're seeing him on the boat and, oh, watch the movie if you want to find out. Anyway, the whole thing is an excuse to showcase musical numbers of Kirby Grant, Ruth Terry, Tito Guizar, with Arthur Lake displaying his drum skills, Penny Singleton her singing and dancing prowess, and even the boy playing Baby Dumpling (Larry Simms) warbling a little with Janet Burston who was also doing that in the M-G-M-produced-only Our Gang comedies during this time. In summary, Blondie Goes Latin was one of the most enjoyable of the series! P.S. By this time, Ms. Singleton had fallen in love and eventually married producer Robert Sparks so she might have influenced this change of pace! And the person credited with writing the original story is Quinn Martin-presumably the same one eventually responsible for producing "The Fugitive", "Cannon", "The Streets of San Francisco", and "Barnaby Jones".

What a musical delight ! I just saw this on the Movies! Cable Chanel, and waited with baited breath to see the credits at the end to find out who these great singing performers were.... I assumed Penny Singleton's singing voice was dubbed by what they used to call a "studio singer", like Marni Nixon...and also, Ruth Terry who I've only known as an actress in the Westerns, never heard she was a singer....but alas, no credits were shown at the end, so I came here in hopes that some of the Reviews would give this info.....and I find out, that both ladies did their own singing! WOW ! Penny has a magnificent operatic voice, and Ruth reminded me very much of Judy Garland! And Arthur Lake is a virtuoso on the drums! Does it get any better? Yes.....because, as usual, the movie was stolen by Baby Dumpling and DAISY! I think Macauley Culkin would have had a run for his money if Larry Simms had shown up for the Home Alone audition....and that DAISY ! DOUBLE WOW ! He would be a winner on " America's Got Talent " for sure !

The plot is really silly, but with all that talent & cuteness, who cares ??

This episode has to be the most original of the entire series, filled to the brim with excellent music and comedy, similar to the type of material ABBOTT & COSTELLO were doing at the time.

Mr. Dithers wants to take a relaxing South American cruise, and Dagwood, Blondie and Baby Dumpling get to come along. So far... so good... UNTIL word comes in at the office that an important client is waiting. Duty calls, so Dithers sends Dagwood back home (leaving Blondie and Baby on the ship) -- but it doesn't quite go that way. Dagwood gets stuck(!) and has to HIDE from everybody.

The best gag is Dagwood posing as a drummer with the ship orchestra, lead by Kirby Grant, later famous for the SKY KING tv show. There's a super number called "You Don't Play a Drum, You Beat It," written by the popular team of Chet Forrest and Bob Wright.

The biggest surprise of all is Penny Singleton showing off her beautiful singing voice, accompanying Grant's (Hal Trent) band. A real unexpected treat. Penny would also sing in the next episode, BLONDIE IN SOCIETY, and with good reason. Also a bit of jealousy and romance at work here; Blondie bumping into handsome Spanish singer Tito Guizar (as Manuel), making Dagwood stand up and take notice! Guizar, born in Guadalajara, Mexico, became a popular singer and composer, later featured in Spanish tv series for years.

For travel buffs, filmed partly at the elite Miradero Estate in Glendale, CA. Miradero was the home of real estate pioneer Leslie Brand, known as the father of Glendale, responsible for mapping out the city in the early 1900s. The estate was later purchased by the city.

A super family episode, not to be missed, applause to the creative direction of Frank Strayer. Always on remastered dvd, either separate episodes or the entire series. Thanks much to MOVIES Net for running this classic Saturday mornings.

This is the 8th film in the series of 28 (1938-1950). Alvin (Danny Mummert) is nice enough to visit the Bumsteads and give flowers to Blondie. h He has a poem to read titled, "The Bumsteads Go To South America". The Bumstead family gets to go on a six-week cruise to South America thanks to Mr. Dithers. Well, a telegram comes for Mr. Dithers. To close a deal at the office, someone must be at the office Tuesday. This is Mr. Dithers health cruise, so that means Dagwood (Arthur Lake) must leave the ship to be at the office. After all Mr. Dithers is Dagwood's boss. But Dithers insists on Blondie (Penny Singleton), Baby Dumpling (Larry Simms) and Daisy too to stay on the ship with him with his compliments. Dagwood says a tearful goodbye. Well, as you will see, Dagwood doesn't quite make it ashore. He is still on the boat and trying to hide from Mr. Dithers. Baby Dumpling meets a little girl and they sing a duet. Penny Singleton gets to sing three beautiful songs and dances too. The next film in the series is BLONDIE IN SOCIETY.

BLONDIE GOES Latin (Columbia, 1941), directed by Frank R. Strayer, is the eighth entry to the highly popular film series based on the comic strip characters created by Chic Young, and a welcome change of pace from the usual domestic comedy at both home and the office to a shipboard musical. On top of that, it showcases Penny Singleton as Blondie, and Arthur Lake as her husband, Dagwood, in displaying their musical talents without stepping out of character, especially Singleton, who is in fine voice here. Let's not forget that Singleton sang in some early screen musicals (such as the 1930 version of "Good News" for MGM) when she was a young brunette named Dorothy McNulty.

The plot centers on Mr. Dithers (Jonathan Hale), Dagwood's boss, who invites the Bumstead family to accompany him on a cruise to South America for some rest and relaxation. However, before the boat leaves, Dithers receives a telegram to return to the office to meet with a very important client to cover an important business deal. Not wanting to postpone his long awaited vacation, Dithers assigns Dagwood to substitute for him to arrive at the office the following Monday and take care of the business contract deal himself. Reluctantly, Dagwood agrees, having his family remain in the company of Dithers so not to have their vacation spoiled. As Dagwood tries to leave the boat, he gets himself tangled up with a band of musicians trying to get on board. After helping them with their instruments by carrying the drums to the dance hall dining area, Dagwood finds that the boat has already left and is miles away from the port. Feeling he has fumbled again, Dagwood explains his predicament to band vocalist, Lovey Nelson (Ruth Terry), who assists him from being noticed by coming up with the idea of having Dag dress in drag masquerading as a lady drummer.

Set sail now for further misadventures and complications of Dagwood Bumstead, highlighted by some singing and dancing, with music and lyrics by Robert Wright and Chet Forrest. Songs featured include: "You Don't Play the Drum, All You Do is Beat It" (sung by band/ drum playing by Arthur Lake); "I Hate Music Lessons" (sung by Janet Burston and Larry Simms. This little number features Burston's doll on top of the piano with movable eyes as the children sing); "Querida" (sung by Tito Guizar and Penny Singleton); "Cry on My Shoulder" (sung by Penny Singleton); "Brazilian Cotillion" and "Pan American Time." Aside from watching Baby Dumpling (Simms) doing his own vocalizing and dancing as any 7-year-old can do, the Bumstead pooch, Daisy, is a howl standing on "her" hind legs doing a few steps along with another dog "herself."

Also seen in the supporting cast are Kirby Grant as Hal Trent, along with the Kirby Grant Orchestra; Eddie Acuff as The Taxi Driver; Joseph King as the ship's captain; Harry Barris as one of the band musicians; along with series regulars, Danny Mummert as Alvin Fuddow, and Irving Bacon as Mr. Cromp, the neighborhood postman, in smaller roles.

In spite of this being a second feature, then commonly known as a "B" movie, BLONDIE GOES Latin looks more like an "A" film, with glossy sets, along with some South American rhythm to go along, making this segment resemble that of the current trend of 20th Century-Fox Latino musicals, but in this situation, minus Technicolor, Cesar Romero and Carmen Miranda. The comedy situations presented are occasionally juvenile, which is expected in the "Blondie" series. On and all, this one ranks one of the most enjoyable outings in the series, and highly recommended for family viewing.

BLONDIE GOES Latin which had played on the American Movie Classics cable channel from 1996 to 2002, especially on Sunday mornings, can be found either on video or DVD package. (**1/2)